View-Master was first introduced at the New York World's Fair in 1939.
Intended as an alternative to the postcard with 7 3D Kodachrome images,
it was originally marketed through photo shops, stationary stores and
scenic attraction gift shops.

Today this tradition continues, but holds a back seat
to subject matter aimed at a much younger audience. These are the subjects you
typically find at your local Target store.

The View-Master system was invented by William Gruber,
an organ maker and avid photographer who lived in Portland, Oregon.
He had the idea to use the old idea of the stereoscope and update it
with the new Kodachrome color film that had just hit the market. A
chance meeting with Harold Graves, the president of Sawyer's, Inc.
(a company that specialized in picture post cards) got the idea off the
ground and quickly took over the postcard business at Sawyer's.

Over the years 3D reels have been produced for Disneyland (since the
opening), Many TV shows (you could see the Munsters in color and in 3D),
Movies (E.T. Jurassic Park) and even for the US military for
airplane/ship identification and range estimation.